Sprayer



mgm A Dec. 22, X959 M. VIARD 2,918,221

SPRAYER FiledDeC. 2. 1957 nire rates The invention relates to sprayersor vaporizers of the type comprising a fluid-tight liquid containerwhich does not communicate with the atmosphere and which, when in itsposition of use, creates a liquid head relative to the spray orice.

An object of the invention is to ensure certain operation of this typeof sprayer and to prevent any leakage of the liquid, especially when theapparatus is not in use.

To this end, a passageway which is provided in a spray head and placesthe liquid container in communication with a spray orifice is closed bya valve whose stem is connected to the control knob of an air pump.

It will be understood that in this arrangement when the knob is returnedto its normal inoperative position, the valve is applied against itsseat and communication be tween the container and the spray orice isprecluded.

In a preferred embodiment, the stem of the valve is slidably mounted ina hollow extension of the knob with interposition of an abutmentensuring the return of the valve to its seat at the end o'f the returntravel of the knob.

This arrangement limits the travel of the valve to a mere separation ofthe valve from its seat, thereby ensuring that penetration of its stemin the container does not create in the latter a suction which wouldexpel an excess of liquid.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe ensuing description with reference to' the accompanying drawing, towhich the invention is in no way restricted.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional View of an embodiment ofthe sprayer according to the invention in its inoperative position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, and is illustrative of the sprayerat the end of its travel in position for spraying, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view of a modificationof the invention.

With reference to Figs. l and 2, the sprayer or vaporizer comprises acontainer 1 connectable in a removable manner by an externally threadedneck 2 to a spray head or spraying attachment having a body formed as anelongated, tubular member 3. The member 3 is provided with a spray orvaporization orifice 4 open to the atmosphere communicating with anannular first chamber 5 member 3 which communicates with the interior ofthe container 1 through an inclined passageway 6 formed in a transversepartition 3 which divides the member 3 into an annular chamber 5 and asecond chamber 8 axially spaced therefrom. A second passageway 7 in thepartition provides communication between the two' chambers. The chamber8 forms the cylinder of an air-pump having a reciprocable piston 9 forcompressing air therein. The piston is operably connected to a knob 10slidable internally of chamber 8 and manually depressible to reciprocatethe piston 9 which is constantly biased by formed in the head body 3.

resilient means comprising a spring 11 to an inoperative or normal restposition as shown in Fig. l.

Between the neck 2 of the container 1 and the body of the spray headbody 3 is disposed a sealing element 12 of plastic material fixed to thebody 3 and pro'vided with a screw-thread corresponding to the threads onneck 2 to insure a fluid-tight connection. The sealing element 12 has aportion 12 extending transversely across the body member 3 to close olfthe mouth of the container 1 and overlies partition 3 so as to makechamber 5 Huid-tight except for the orifice 4 and the passageway 6. Anopening 13 is provided in portion 12 of the sealing element and isdefined by raised lip 12a forming a valve seat. The opening is soarranged that passageway 6 can communicate with the interior of thecontainer 1 only through opening 13.

The opening 13 is opened and closed by a valve member 14 provided with aplastic element 15 seatable on the valve seat. The valve member 14 has astem which passes through a bearing portion 16 of partition 1' This stemcomprises an upper stem portion 17 connected to the valve member 14 andscrewed into a lower stem portion 18 which terminates in an enlarged endor head 19. The lower portion 18 slides in a hollow, rod-like extension20 of the knob 10. The extension 20 has at its upper end an abutment orshoulder 21 co-operating with the head 19. After the sprayer isassembled the lower open end of the extension 20 is preferably closed bya plug 22 composed of plastic or like material.

To ensure perfect fluid-tightness and prevent the liquid from thecontainer leaking along the stem portion 17 and entering the chamber 8,resilient means consisting of a flexible diaphragm 23 which has itsperiphery applied by the spring 11 against a recessed upper transverseface of the chamber 8 formed by portion 16 of partition 3'. The centralpart of the diaphragm 23 is gripped between the two stem members 17 and18. The diaphragm 23 is preferably slightly resilient or elastic andarranged in such manner as to tend to raise the valve 14 off its seat.Bosses 24 are arranged on the periphery of the diaphragrn 23 and formbearing surfaces for the spring 11 so as to prevent the coils of thisspring fro'm closing the aperture 7.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. l and 2, the piston of the air pump isconstituted by a flexible cup or washer 9 of leather or plasticmaterial, whereas in the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 this cup is replacedand the piston has a skirt formed as a deformable bellows 25 fittinginternally of chamber 8 bearing against partition 1. It can readily beseen that the stem portions 17, 18 jointly form a connecting rod which,along with guide means 29, form a lost-motion connection operativelyconnecting piston 9 and valve member 14.

The sprayer operates in the following manner:

In the inoperative position of the sprayer, the spring 11 urges the knob10 to a terminal rest position and the extension 20 of the latter actson the stem portion 18 through the medium of the abutment 21 in adirection so as to' maintain the valve 14 applied against the lipforming the seat around the opening 13. As soon as the knob 10 ismanually depressed in the direction toward the seat as shown by an arrowF, air is compressed in chamber 8 or internally of bellows 25 andextension Zt) moves axially along portion 18 so that under the jointeffect of the resilience around the lip of the opening 13 and of thediaphragm 23, the valve 14 is lifted ott its seat (see Fig. 2) andpermits the liquid from container 1 to flow through the passageway 6into the chamber 5. The liquid is sprayed out through the orifice o'rnozzle 4, by the air expelled through the aperture 7 by the pump. Uponrelease of the knob 10 the spring 11 Patented Dec. 22, 1959.

returns the piston to its rest position and as abutment 21 engages head19 on the outward travel of the piston the valve member is seated. Itbeing understood that the atomizer according to the invention isoperated with the container 1 in an inverted position.

It will be observed that should the passageway 6 become blocked, itsinclined position permits it to be cleaned by introduction of a pinthrough the orifice 4.

Although specic embodiments of the invention have been described, manymodifications and changes may be made therein without departing from thescope of the invention as `defined in the appended claims.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A spraying attachment for an atomizer attachable to the mouth of afluid-filled container comprising, in combination, an elongated, tubularbody member releasabl'y attachable with a fluid-tight connection to themouth of said container, means comprising a partition in said tubularmember separating it into an annular first chamber and a separate secondchamber axially spaced from the first chamber and having a firstpassageway providing communication between the chambers, means fixedextending transversely of said body member defining said first chamberjointly with said partition and positionable across the mouth of thecontainer when said body member is attached to the container, said lastmentioned means having a valve seat exteriorly of the first chamberprovided with an opening for providing communication with the interiorof the container, said partition having a second passageway providingcommunication between the first chamber and the valve seat opening, saidtubular member having a discharge orifice providing communicationbetween the atmosphere and the interior of said first chamber, a valvemember operable to a seated position on said seat closing said openingand an unseated position allowing fluid iiow from the interior of saidcontainer into said first chamber, a manually depressible pistonreciprocable in said second chamber for selectively compressing airtherein when moved in a direction toward said valve seat, lost-motionconnection means disposed interiorly of the second chamber including avalve stem extending through said partition into the second chamberconnecting the piston and said valve member and including means to allowdisplacement of the piston and subsequent unseating of the valve memberwhen the pistn is depressed, first resilient means disposed interiorlyof the second chamber constantly urging the valve stem in a directionfor unseating the valve member, second resilient means disposedinteriorly of the second chamber biasing the piston in a direction awayfrom said valve seat to a rest position in which the piston maintainsthe valve member seated, whereby when the container is in an invertedposition and the piston is manually depressed air is compressed in thesecond chamber and applied to the first chamber to discharge atomizedfiuid under pressure from said first chamber upon unseating of the valvemember and upon release of the piston the second resil` ient meansreturns it to said rest position for closing the valve seat opening.

2. A spraying attachment for an atomizer attachable to the mouth of afluid-filled container comprising, in combination, an elongated, tubularbody member releasably attachable with a fluid-tight connection to themouth of said container, means comprising a partition in said tubularmember separating it into an annular first chamber and a separate secondchamber axially spaced from the first chamber and having a firstpassagewy providing communication between the chambers, means fixedextending transversely of said body member defining said rfirst chamberjointly with said partition and positionable across the mouth of thecontainer when said body member is attached to the container, said lastmentioned means having a valve seat exteriorly of the first chamberprovided with an opening for providing communication with the interiorof said container, said partition havng a second passageway providingcommuncation between the first chamber and the valve seat opening, saidtubular member having a discharge orifice providing communicationbetween the atmosphere and the interior of said first chamber, a valvemember operable to a seated position on said seat closing said openingand an unseated position for allowing fiuid fiow from the interior ofsaid container into said first chamber, a manually depressible pistonreciprocable in said second chamber for selectively compressing airtherein when moved in a direction toward said valve seat, lost-motionconnection means disposed interiorly of the second chamber including avalve stem extending through said partition into the second chamberconnecting the piston and said valve member including means to allowdisplacement of the piston and subsequent unseating of the valve memberwhen the piston is depressed, a peripherally anchored resilientdiaphragm disposed interiorly of said second chamber andcircumferentially fixed to said valve stem providing a fluid-tight sealaround said stem and constantly urging the valve stem in a direction forunseating the valve member, second resilient means disposed interiorlyof the second chamber biasing the piston in a direction away from saidvalve seat to a rest position in which the piston maintains the valvemember seated, whereby when the container is in an inverted position andthe piston is manually depressed air is compressed in the second chamberand applied to the first chamber to discharge atomized fiuid underpressure from said first chamber upon unseating of the valve member andupon release of the piston the second resilient means returns it to saidrest position for closing the valve seat opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,651,544 Cuadras Sept. 8, 1953 2,760,822 Boris et al. Aug. 28, 1956FOREIGN PATENTS 519,798 Canada Dec. 20, 1955

